I would like to ask for references for books (online or not) dealing with the jhanas as thaught by the Buddha (ie, with 5 senses not shut down; please don't debate wether this is the correct jhana or not, here). Some small descriptions would be apreciated. The books don't necessarily have to be just about jhana, but should cover this topic with some depth.

I already have Ayya Khema's "Who is my self?".

Thank you in advance

He turns his mind away from those phenomena, and having done so, inclines his mind to the property of deathlessness: 'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' (Jhana Sutta - Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation)

Not a practice book, but a book about jhana: THE EXPERIENCE OF SAMADHI by Richard Shankman. It does look at the controvesy of the sutta vs commentarial notions. It has interviews with various teachers. it may or may not be of interest. It can be gotten for under $10.00 on Amazon.

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++++++++++++++++This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

There is freedom from birth, freedom from becoming, freedom from making, freedom from conditioning. If there were not this freedom from birth, freedom from becoming, freedom from making, freedom from conditioning, then escape from that which is birth, becoming, making, conditioning, would not be known here. -- Ud 80

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoine.People live in one another’s shelter.

When you enter the first jhana you are still in touch with your physical senses. Your eyes are closed but you can still hear, smell, feel, and taste. This is one definite indication of the first jhana, as opposed to others.

When you enter the first jhana you are still in touch with your physical senses. Your eyes are closed but you can still hear, smell, feel, and taste. This is one definite indication of the first jhana, as opposed to others.

I also highly second tilt's recommendation. Richard Shankman's The Experience of Samadhi is excellent.

The heart of the path is SO simple. No need for long explanations. Give up clinging to love and hate, just rest with things as they are. That is all I do in my own practice. Do not try to become anything. Do not make yourself into anything. Do not be a meditator. Do not become enlightened. When you sit, let it be. When you walk, let it be. Grasp at nothing. Resist nothing. Of course, there are dozens of meditation techniques to develop samadhi and many kinds of vipassana. But it all comes back to this - just let it all be. Step over here where it is cool, out of the battle. - Ajahn Chah

I didn't know about "Beyond minfulness in plain English". I read "Minfulness in plain English" a few weeks ago (same author) and that was a very good book.

Hi Ytrog, I think the OP specifically called for a book which doesn't claim that the five senses are 'shut down' in first Jhana, which kind of rules out Ven. Ajahn Brahm's (otherwise very helpful) book.

Out of curiosity because it was mentioned here by a user in an interesting context I bought it. After having read it I am concluding that while it may be inspiring as to "how to approach concentration" the way the author presents his view/interpretations and the way he tries to support his view/interpretations with sutta references does not appear very convincing. Since this forum is called "suttanta method" the mention of this book may be misplaced here.

I've only gotten near the 1st Jhana so far, but I found "Focused and Fearless" by Shalia Catherine to be useful. It teaches all of the related concepts ( names and descriptions of various states of mind, etc ) without dumbing things done, yet is very clear. She offers loads of exercises, but the basic technique is to do anapanasati with the difference ( from insight practice ) of letting go of distractions as opposed to being aware of them and watching them pass.

In reading the scriptures, there are two kinds of mistakes:One mistake is to cling to the literal text and miss the inner principles.The second mistake is to recognize the principles but not apply them to your own mind, so that you waste time and just make them into causes of entanglement.

Thank you for your sugestions, but please pay atention to the original post, where I asked for books on jhana as described in the suttas, ie, with the 5 senses not unactive.

He turns his mind away from those phenomena, and having done so, inclines his mind to the property of deathlessness: 'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' (Jhana Sutta - Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation)

Modus.Ponens wrote:Thank you for your sugestions, but please pay atention to the original post, where I asked for books on jhana as described in the suttas, ie, with the 5 senses not unactive.

You'll probably enjoy reading this. I'm not sure if you'd seen that it was recently submitted to the Early Buddhism subforum.

"And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.

"And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]